Lock for folding table-legs.



G. A. CARLSON. LOCK FOR FOLDING TABLE LEGS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1912.

KWLH, Patented Aug. 26, 1913;

formed by and the plate 18 and should rest squarely against the under side of the table top formed by the plate 13, a lever 21 is pivotally attached to the outer side of the hinge plate 18 by means of a suitable rivet and in such oeition upon the notchedlocking end 22 of the lever 21 may be brought into locking engagement with a slot 23 in one of the legs of the plate 13.

The slot 23 is so placed that it firmly holds the leg 12 in the set-up position, ressing it against the under side of the ta 1e top 10 Within the angular plate 13, the side 25 of said slot 23 being given a slight angle of inclination which presses the end of the lever 21 against the plate 18, thereby pressing the square upper end of the leg 12 firmly into the recess within the sides of the plate 13, the end 2& of the slot 23 being made sufiiciently long to permit of said inclination of the side 25. The side 25 also provides a wider opening toward the end 24 which leads the end 22 of lever 21 into the slot 23 so that if the leg 12 is not pressed firmly into the bracket 13 but is approaching the set-up position, it will permit of the lever 21 being operated to press it firmly into line since the end 22 will catch within the inclined side 25 and draw the leg into place as the lever moves up said inclination.

The leg is held in the set-up position with still greater rigidity by means of a notch 26 in the opposite leg of the plate 13 into which notch'the lever 21 enters, a locking notch 30 being provided in the side of the lever 21 to engage in the notch 26. It is apparent that the notched end 22 and the notch 30 hold on the outer sides ofthe two legs of bracket 13, thereby binding the leg firmly in line. A broad finger hold 27 is provided on lever 21 for pressin said lever down into place and for releasing the same, and it is obvious that the locking of the leg 12 in the set-up position and the release of said leg is entirely manually operated. The length of the lever 21 with its handle or finger hold 27 is suificient to force said lever into a strong binding engagement.

In order to hold the legs 12 in the folded position as they extend around the under side of the table top adjacent the frame 11, a spring 28 is provided which has a lug 29 with a hole therethrough and extending at right angles therefrom for attaching to block 16 on the opposite side of said block from lug 17. A hole 31 is provided midway of the length of spring 28 to receive the end of hinge pin 20 as it extends through the adjacent side of the bracket 13, said hinge pin being provided with a shoulder near each the angular sides of the plate 13 plate 18 that the 'end to space the parts and is riveted so as to hold the parts firmly in place.

The end 32 of the spring 28 projects from beneath and beyond the lug 17 and has a lengthwise crimp 33 therein which is' inclined toward the outer edge so that the edge 7 of the plate 18 presses down over the crimp 33 and holds beneath said crimp, and the crimp shuts into a small notch 34 in the side of leg 12 as shown in Fig. 4. A crosswise bend 35 is provided on spring 28 adjacent the end of the leg of bracket 13 so as to bring the end 32 of spring 28 into line with the inner side of said leg so that said end 32 will receive the edge of the plate 18 as it presses against the same and snap into locking engagement with crimp 33. The block 16 presses against the spring 28, holding it firmly in line and strengthening the same,as well as stifiening and supporting the leg of the bracket 13.

It is apparent that the upper end of the le 12 will wear and become a loose fit after being refolded a great number of times, and that as soon as it so wears said leg will be loose and the support of the table become insecure in proportion to the play permitted within the bracket 13. Accordingly a screw 36 is provided in the side of the upper end of leg 12 opposite plate 18, which screw is preferably a machine screw with a broad head which ,can' be quickly withdrawn slightly when the end of the leg Wears, thereby tightening the fit of the upper end of said leg since the lever 21 presses the head of said screw against the inner end of the bracket 13 'so that the user may have a continuous tight fit for said upper end and firm holding of the table leg.

I claim as neW- 1. A locking hinge for a table leg comprising a bracket plate having a sidewise opening therein and extending around three sides of the upper end of the table leg, a hinge plate on the fourth side of the table leg pivotally attached to said bracket across the mouth of said sidewise opening, and a lever pivotally attached to said hinge plate and lockingon the sides of said bracket plate across said sidewise opening to bindingly hold said upper end of the table leg.

2. A folding table comprising a table top, a frame on the underside of said top, a table leg, a bracket piece attached on the inner side of said frame on said table top, said bracket piece having an opening therein to receive the upper end of the table leg, a hinge plate attached to said leg and pivotally attached in said bracketpiece, a lever pivotally attached to said hinge plate, said bracket piece having a slot opposite the end of said lever when in the set-up position to receive said end in locking engagement, said bracket piece having a notch in the side thereof opposite said slot to receive said a frame on the under side of said top, a tab e leg, a bracket piece attached on the inner side of said frame on said table top, said bracket piece having an opening therein to receive the upper end of the table leg, a'

'opening therein an hinge plate attached to said leg and pivotally attached in said bracket piece, a lever Eivotall attached on the outer side of said inge p ate, said bracket piece having a slot opposite the end of said lever when in the set up position to receive said end in looking engagement, the side of said slot formed at an angle inclined toward said hinge plate to bindingly draw the end of said lever toward said hinge plate, said bracket piece havin a notch in the side 0 posite said slot to rece1ve said lever in close ocking engagement when in the set up position.

4. A locking hinge for a table leg comprising a bracket late having a sidewise d extending around three sides of the upper end of the table leg, a hinge plate on the fourth side of the table leg pivotally attached to the opposite sides of said bracket plate across the mouth of said sidewise opening, a lever pivotally attached to said hinge plate an locking in openings on the sides of said bracket plate across said sidewise opening, a spring plate attached to the side of said bracket plate and extendin out alongside of said hinge plate on the ta le leg, and a crimp in said spring to engage over the edge of said hinge plate and hold the table leg in the folded position.

5. A looking hin e for a table'leg comprisin a flat U-s aped strip to extend aroun three sides of the upper end of the table leg, a hinge plate for the table leg on its fourth side pivotally'attached to the legs of said U-shaped strip across its mouth and near its top ed e, a lever pivotally attached to the outer side of said hinge plate and locking in openings on both legs of said U-shaped strip across said mouth, and a take-up screw in the side of the table legopposite said lever to (press against the inner side of said U-shape strip and adjust the fit of the upper end of the table le in said U-shaped stri substantially as an for the purpose speci ed.

6. A locking hinge for a table leg comprising a meta U-sha ed strip fitting closely around three sides 0 the upper end ofthe table leg 61nd forming a holding bracket therefor, a hinge plate on the fourth side of the table leg pivotally attached to the legs of said holding bracket across its mouth, and near its up er edge, a lever pivotally attached to said hinge plate and locking in a notch and slot on the legs of said holding bracket across said mouth, asprin plate attached to said U-shaped holding bracket alongside the inner leg, said 5 rm plate having a hold lug extending t ere rom, a lug bent from the end of the adjacent leg of the U-shaped holding bracket and extending out over said spring and bracket to hold said spring, a block attached to the table top adjacent said spring to receive the end of the tablele thereon and attaching screws through sai lugs into said block, the end of said spring extending in the ath of said table leg to hold it in the folde position.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in the Eresence of two Witnesses.

OAR ALFRED LCARLSON. Witnesses ARTHUR 0. Moms, RAYMOND B. Srnvns. 

